Building Community Around Mid-Atlantic Grains
by Jillian O ’ Donohoe
A ccording to the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ), the demand for local foods has rocketed , starting with farmers markets in the late 1990s and more so through farm stands , other directto-consumer markets , and regional distributors at the start of the current decade . Someone imagining local food in the Mid-Atlantic might picture fresh fruits and vegetables , dairy , eggs , and meat . Common Grain Alliance ( CGA ) is making sure that regionally grown grains and staple foods , from wheat and oats to rice and beans , have a place in the local food conversation .
CGA was created in 2018 with the mission of connecting and supporting farmers , millers , bakers , and grain artisans to build a vibrant , integrated , equitable and regenerative grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic .
Founding members Little Hat Creek Farm , Great Day Gardens , Deep Roots Milling , Hickory Hill Farm , Greater Richmond Grains , Sub Rosa Bakery , Althea Bakery , Jeff ’ s Breads , Taste of Jubilee , and individual supporters of the regional food system came together recognizing the present lack of a coordinated value chain that enabled grain agriculture to flourish and that educated consumers that grains can , in fact , grow along the East Coast and Southern United States . CGA has grown to over 120 members reaching into Maryland , Washington DC , West Virginia , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Delaware , and Tennessee .
The organization provides direct support to its members by getting more Mid-Atlantic grown grains and staple foods from the farm into the hands of customers in Washington DC through the Mid-Atlantic Grain Share and Mid- Atlantic Grain Stand programs , in partnership with FRESHFARM , the largest operator of farmers markets in the region . The idea is to find potential markets interested in incorporating regionally grown grains into a local food diet and supplementing access with education to help these markets grow .
Savage Acres Farm and Brown Cow Creamery , a CGA member from Dickerson , Maryland , is currently one of twelve members within 200 miles of DC that provides grains and staple foods for the weekly Grain Share and Grain Stand that were launched in the spring and fall of 2022 , respectively . Savage Acres grows corn , barley , and wheat that supports the soil health of the land they steward before delivering harvests for these programs as well as to local distillers who return the spent grains after they ’ re used to feed Savage Acres ’ herd of cows and pigs . Their entire operation is built around conserving agricultural land and keeping the land clean for future generations . They also participate in the Million Acre Challenge , which aims to see one million acres of agricultural land in Maryland being maintained with healthy soil practices by 2030 .
Whether as a cover crop or as intended for animal or human consumption , growing grains is an underutilized tool in agriculture that can offer benefits for environmental health and land fertility while providing nutritious food for local
plenty I autumn harvest 2023 43